AN elderly woman who was conned into leaving her house unattended later discovered that £30 in cash was missing from her purse.

It happened when the 80-year-old victim heard a knock at the back door of her home in Edge Street, Thatto Heath. A man in his 20s was standing outside and said he had been sent to knock down an adjoining wall between the woman's house and her next door neighbour's.

The woman went outside to speak to the man, when they were joined by two more men. The woman went back inside to call a family member, but when they arrived about 20 minutes later the three men had gone. A search of the house revealed £30 had been stolen from the woman's purse.

The first man who was white, about 5ft 7ins tall with an average build and short dark hair. He wore a white shirt and dark trousers and spoke with a local accent.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Nigel Heslop at the St Helens CID office on 0151 777 6876 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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